Can a spacecraft achieve a geo-synchronous orbit?

Question

Or would it instantly fall back down to Earth?

Answer 1

Well we know spacecraft can achieve orbit which is nothing more than falling the same amount that the curve of earth pulls away keeping craft same distance away from planet.

Geo-synchronous orbit means stays over same spot on the surface and we have satellites than can do it so i don't see why a craft cannot since it would be same process

Answer 2

A satellite is a spacecraft and there are lots of those in geosynchronous orbits! No manned spacecraft has ever been put into a geosynchronous orbit - it's rather a long way out, at 23,500 miles, which is the distance at which the speed required to remain in orbit matches the earth's rotation. Incidentally, the orbit does not depend on the weight (or rather mass) of the craft - you could have a lead weight and a feather in the same orbit.

Answer 3

At any given height there is a certain speed which will keep the spacecraft over the same spot on earth. The craft would be referred to as being Geo-stationary. Examples of these would be communications sats which are used to cover specific ocean regions.

Imagine a ball tied to a wheel with a piece of rope. The wheel is spun and the ball should eventually settle into an orbit round the wheel without falling into it or moving further away. The ball would remain in the same position over the wheel.

Answer 4

There are many satellites in such orbits. To achieve geo-synchronous orbit, the weight of the spacecraft and the altitude and speed would have to be just right. This just means that the orbit would have to match the speed of the rotating Earth.

Answer 5

Geo synchronous orbit is the comparable as geo table sure orbit. You advise low earth orbit. elevating the orbit for an merchandise is like lifting a stone. the better you bring up it the extra power it has. So power is often required to advance a satellite tv for pc to a a techniques better orbit. And the main technique to do this's by way of using rocket gasoline. while you're very affected person, and occasional-fee, you are able to evaluate using a solarsail to slowly and steadily advance the orbit. You unfold the sail while the satellite tv for pc is shifting far flung from the sunlight. after which you fold it up while the satellite tv for pc swings around earth and faces the sunlight returned. The reasonable tension from the solarwind will, in very small increments, advance the satellites power and bring up its orbit. yet maximum communications companies right this moment do no longer choose to wait for their product to start producing sales just to keep a dollar at launch. particularly they might spring for the extra money mandatory to deliver the satellite tv for pc to geostationary orbit in one bypass.

Answer 6

Well we have multiple spacecraft's called Satellite's in geosynchronous orbit the most common are the GPS satellites theoretically you can see 12 at any one time. If on a clear night you look in the sky the objects that appear to change colour are the satellites

Answer 7

There are dozens and dozens of satellites in geosynchronous orbit including the ones for DirecTV, Dish Network, XM radio, all the TV networks, all the phone companies, the GPS satellites and many more for military use.

Answer 8

Depending if its got the fuel to get that high. The American Space Shuttle only carrys enough fuel to go roughly 500 miles into space, this is a LONG ways away from the 23,500 geosync orbitals.